Aid Skimming

May 10, 1986

TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS — The bills from the small grocery store to the United States since last fall add up to $3.8 million. They supposedly are for non-military supplies for guerrillas fighting Nicaragua's Sandinista government. U.S., Honduran and rebel sources say the grocery is a front for a skimming operation by top Honduran military officers. A classified U.S. document obtained by Reuter's News Service showed $325,000 paid for 20,000 uniforms. ''Forget it, there were no uniforms,'' said a U.S. official. ''They the rebels were buying jeans -- Sergio Valenti jeans -- in order not to go naked.'' The official said the skimmed money was ''peanuts for what you are getting'' in Honduran support.